Secretariat, Taipei City Government

Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang met over breakfast with Sumi Shuzo, Chairman of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association, and his delegation on December 5. The two parties engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on key issues such as declining birth rates, population aging, energy policy, and urban exchanges between Japan and Taiwan. Chairman Sumi also extended a formal invitation for Mayor Chiang to visit Japan again. The meeting was conducted in a cordial atmosphere.

Mayor Chiang welcomed Chairman Sumi, thanking him for making time to visit despite his demanding schedule. He noted that the relations between Taiwan and Japan have long been close and friendly, and that the Taipei City Government has actively promoted substantive cooperation with cities across Japan. The two parties share geographic and societal similarities, as well as common values in democracy and freedom—providing a strong foundation for further deepening mutually beneficial exchanges in response to shared challenges.

Chairman Sumi Shuzo expressed that it was a great honor to meet Mayor Wan-An Chiang for the first time in his capacity as Chairman of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association. He shared his deep personal connection to Taiwan, noting that his father-in-law is from Keelung, and expressed hope that the longstanding friendship between Japan and Taiwan can continue to deepen through city diplomacy and grassroots engagement and be passed on to the next generation. Mayor Chiang noted that since the establishment of the Department for Youth in the Taipei City Government, the city has actively expanded youth exchanges with Japan. This includes the signing of an internship cooperation agreement with Waseda University, Chairman Sumi’s alma mater. He affirmed that Taipei will continue to strengthen youth interaction in the future.

The two parties also conducted an in-depth exchange of views on topics such as energy, population decline, and the urban–rural divide. Chairman Sumi pointed out that Japan faces three major challenges: energy supply, a declining and aging population, and population concentration. He emphasized that in an era of rapid developments in AI and big data, the importance of stable power supply has become even more critical. Additionally, the energy crisis triggered by the Russia–Ukraine war has prompted Japan to re-evaluate its nuclear energy policies.

Mayor Chiang then shared how the Taipei City Government is working to strengthen urban resilience across the domains of safety, economy, and energy. He highlighted the city’s forward-looking approach to AI development, including its successful efforts to attract NVIDIA to establish a headquarters in Taipei. In line with international trends and investment needs, the city is also carefully assessing the feasibility of small modular reactors and other new energy sources. Chairman Sumi expressed his strong recognition of Taipei’s proactive efforts.